PNC hails ‘high turnout’ in internal polls to elect over 2,500 officials

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) states that turnout is high for the internal polls it is holding Saturday to elect over 2,500 candidates to various positions within the party.

Polls opened at 09:00 am and are set to close at 04:00 pm.

PNC’s secretary-general Moosa Fathuhy told Sun that the elections are going ahead “with great competitiveness and passion.”

He said that the elections were well-organized.

Fathuhy said that polling began at all stations at 09:00 am, and that the turnout was high.

“I have to say the participation in the elections is very high. There are a lot of people even now. The turnout is very high,” he said, without specifying a number.

Fathuhy said that some 40,000 people are eligible to vote in the elections.

At a press conference held by the PNC’s elections committee last weekend, party spokesperson Mohamed Firzul Abdul Khaleel told reporters once the elections are over, the party will have over 2,500 representatives in various posts across the country.

He did not disclose the exact number of candidates, but said that an excess of 131 had filed candidacy for the elections.

The PNC is the largest political party in the Maldives, with over 74,000 members.

The party is set to hold its congress in September.